Education students support homeless shelter

Dec. 15, 2004

KALAMAZOO--A fall semester project taken on by a class of
Western Michigan University students has come to fruition just
as the Christmas season gets into full swing and the idea of
giving to others takes on additional meaning.

The project has resulted in more than $5,000 worth of useful
items being collected and donated to Housing Resources Inc.'s
Eleanor Street Shelter in Kalamazoo to help area families that
are homeless.

It developed out of WMU's ED 350 class, Young Children, their
Families and Society, which gives future teachers a chance to
study how society affects children. It also gives them a chance
to participate in "academic service learning" by spending
time at the Eleanor shelter, then creating and implementing a
project to help homeless children and their families.

"These students really went out of their way to help
and did a wonderful job," says Dr. Josephine Davis, assistant
professor of teaching, learning and leadership and the instructor
for ED 350. "Through their efforts, two other organizations
also contributed to the project. The Perigo Pharmaceutical Supplies
Co. in Allegan gave about $1,000 worth of items and the Fabri-Kal
Co. in Kalamazoo gave about $500 worth of items."

Davis adds that all of the students who were instrumental
in directing and leading the project are from Michigan. Their
names and home towns are: Jana Kurtz of Plainwell, Josie Bongiorno
of Stevensville, Ellen Mytty, of Westland, Emily Dombos of Kalamazoo,
Lynette Guppy of Grand Rapids, Megan Wood-Schrantz of Jonesville,
Jennifer Pickney of Sterling Heights, Chelsie Henson of Utica,
Katie Valenti of Plymouth, Andrea Bielang of Paw Paw, Jared Wallace
of Muskegon and Erin Turner of Marcellus.

For more information, contact Dr. Josephine Davis at <josephine.davis@wmich.edu>
or (269) 387-3496.